The Chandipura virus, which is transmitted by vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks and sandflies, causes fever, with flu-like symptoms, and acute encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
Chandipura virusA total of 28 children below the age of 14 have succumbed to the deadly Chandipura virus in Gujarat since the first case of the lethal pathogen was reported in the state in July this year, Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel said on Wednesday.
Patel, while replying to a “short notice question” by AAP legislator Umesh Makwana, informed the state legislative assembly that 164 cases of viral encephalitis, caused by certain pathogens including Chandipura virus, have been reported so far in Gujarat and 101 children have succumbed to the infection.
Of these 164 cases detected so far, 61 were caused by the Chandipura virus, out of which 28 children have succumbed to the deadly infection, the health minister said.
“So far, 101 children below the age of 14 have died due to acute encephalitis. Of them, 28 have died due to Chandipura virus infection, while 73 have succumbed to encephalitis caused by other viral infections,” Patel told the House.
The minister said the sand fly, which carries the Chandipura virus, lives in the cracks of mud houses, which are very common in the interior.
He said 63 children were discharged after treatment while four were still under medical care, stating that the situation in the state is now under control as no new cases have been reported in the last one week and no death has been reported in the last 12 days.
Patel said the state government has launched a statewide drive for vector control and containment of the Chandipura virus, under which health teams have inspected over 53,000 houses in areas where viral encephalitis and Chandipura cases had emerged.
Malathion powder, a pesticide, has been sprayed on more than 700,000 mud houses in villages to control diseases, he said, adding that liquid pesticide was also sprayed on nearly 158,000 houses, he said.
As children are more vulnerable to this virus, malathion powder and liquid pesticide have also been sprayed in nearly 40,000 schools and over 36,000 Anganwadis in the affected districts, the minister said.
Patel said the Gandhinagar-based Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) is conducting research to find another virus apart from Chindipura, which caused encephalitis and claimed the lives of children.
The Chandipura virus, which is transmitted by vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks and sandflies, causes fever, with flu-like symptoms, and acute encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
(With contributions from agencies)
